2008 Kia Spectra engine knock and white smoke when trying to start

Maintenance/Repairs
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31

I have a suspicion that this story isn’t going to end very well from what you stated about the symptoms of the trouble. I do believe that the timing belt has slipped and if the engine is an interference engine that would mean damaged valves. If this is the case, even putting in a used engine as a replacement would be pretty expensive.